Australian Flag

Location:
Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the
South Pacific Ocean

Australian Flag - Did you know...The upper left quarter of the Australian flag is called the Canton and pictures the UK Union Jack Flag - Australian Flag

A comprehensive guide to the
Australian Flag. Discover facts and useful information.

Flags are an extremely easy way
to identify a country or area immediately, language is not a barrier. The
colors and emblems chosen by each country are deeply symbolic. Find out all
you need to know about the Australian Flag.

Australian Flag - MeaningThe study of flags is called Vexillology and comes from the Latin
word vexillum ("flag") and the Greek suffix -logy ("study").
The word "flag" is derived from the old Saxon word "fflaken" which means
to fly or to float in the air. The idea of flying a flag grew from the
requirements of ancient warfare and the battlefield. Shields were
painted with emblems or symbols to identify friend or enemy. Warriors
needed to know where their leaders were hence the custom of carrying a
pole was adopted and subsequently the idea of flags began! Flags and
banners were even mentioned in the bible, the following quote is
from the bible book entitled Song of Solomons, (6:10): "Thou
art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible
as an army with banners."

Australian Flag
- DescriptionThe Australian Flag is
described as follows:

The upper left
quarter of the Australian flag is called the Canton and pictures
the UK Union Jack Flag

The Australian
flag pictures a large seven-pointed star known as the
Commonwealth Star which symbolises the federation of the
colonies of Australia in 1901

The Commonwealth
Star depicts one point for each of the six original states
and one representing the six original states and the
territories of Australia

The Commonwealth
Star is displayed in the lower hoist-side quadrant of the
Australian flag

The fly half of
the Australian flag pictures a representation of the
Southern Cross constellation featuring white stars, One
small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed
stars

Australian Flag -
Color
SymbolismAccording to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions there is a vast amount of symbolism
associated with the color of a nations flag. The full development of
heraldry in about 1200AD also brought sophisticated design of flags,
some of which includes a Coat of Arms. The
individual colors that make up the Australian flag represent the
following:

White -
Peace and honesty

Blue -
Vigilance, Truth and Loyalty, Perseverance & Justice

Red -
Hardiness, Bravery, Strength & Valour

Australian Flag
- DefinitionA flag is
defined as a symbol or emblem usually consisting of a rectangular
piece of cloth of distinctive design. Flags are also often used as a
signalling device and method of communication. Government buildings
are often decorated with flags. A cloth usually bearing a device or
devices and used to indicate nationality, party, etc., or to give or
ask information; commonly attached to a staff to be waved by the
wind; a standard; a banner; an ensign; the colors; as, the national
flag; a military or a naval flag.

Australia
and the Australian Flag- Facts

The British
monarch is still the head of state for Australia despite it
being an independent nation

The longest
river in Australia is the Murray

The highest
point in Australia is Mount Kosciusko

There are over
fifty different species of Kangaroo in Australia

The Sydney
Harbour bridge is one of Australia's best known landmarks.
It was built in 1932 and provides a link between the north
and south of the city

The Australian
gold rush began in the 1850's and the country is now a major
exporter of other metals including Zinc, Tin, Nickel,
Tungsten and gold

The Australian
flag pictures a large seven-pointed star known as the
Commonwealth Star which represents the federation of the
colonies of Australia in 1901

The Commonwealth
Star depicts one point for each of the six original states
and one representing the six original states and the
territories of Australia

The Commonwealth
Star is displayed in the lower hoist-side quadrant

The fly half of
the Australian flag pictures a representation of the
Southern Cross constellation featuring white stars, One
small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed
stars

Australia is
situated between the Pacific and Indian Ocean

The Great
Barrier Reef is found off the north-eastern coast of
Australia and is over 2,000km from north to south

Several animals
can only be found in Australia including: Kangaroos, Koalas,
Tasmanian Devils and
Duck Billed Platypuses

Australia is
become famous world wide for its vineyards. Its quality
wines are now exported all over the world

The Argyle
diamond Mill in the Kimberley region of Western Australia
and one of the largest sources of Pink diamonds in the
world. Blue diamonds are also mined at the Australian Argyle mine

Displaying the Australian Flag -
What you need to know about the Australian Flag!

The
shape and flag ratio of the Australian Flag is 1:2 (the length
is twice the height)

The upper left
quarter of the flag is called the Canton and pictures the UK
Union Jack Flag

All
Flag pictures show flags flying, from the viewer's
point of view, from left to right

The
Study of the Flags is known as Vexillology

The
upper left quarter of the flag is known as the
Canton

A Flag
share is the flag officer's share of prize money

People
with an interest in flags are called Vexillologists

The
Romans were the first to use a cloth flag - they
were square and fastened to cross bars at the end of
spears - the idea of fastening a flag to the side of
a pole soon followed

The act or
function of raising the Australian Flag, as on a rope is referred to as
hoisting

To denote grief
and mourning, the Australian Flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole , this is called flying the flag at
Half Staff or Half Mast and is carried out by firstly
raising the Australian Flag to the top, then lowering the Australian Flag halfway

To show distress
the Australian Flag is flown upside-down

Always hoist the
Australian Flag briskly and lower the Australian Flag ceremoniously

No disrespect
should be shown to the Australian flag

The Australian Flag should
never be displayed, used, fastened or kept in such a way as
to allow the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in
any way

The Australian Flag should
never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor
attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure,
design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature

To strike, or
lower the Australian Flag is the process of hauling it down. It is a
token of respect, submission, or, in an engagement, of
surrender

To hang out a
white flag is a method of asking for a truce or quarter, or,
in some cases, to manifest a friendly design by exhibiting a
white flag

To dip the flag
is the process of lowering and quickly restore it to its
place is often done as a mark of respect

Dream Definition -
Australian FlagSeeing your
national flag in your dream means peace and/or prosperity.
Seeing a flag of a foreign nation indicates a breach of trust
between friends.

Australian Flag

Australian Flag

Australian Flag
Symbols

Australian Flag -
Meaning

What do the
colors represent?

Color
Symbolism in Flags

Meaning
of different colors

Australian Flag - Pictures

Pictures and Videos of
Australian FlagDiscover the selection of pictures
and videos relating to different flag symbols, a useful educational
resource for budding Vexillologists! Learn about the meaning and history
of the Australian Flag. The Australian Flag is a good example of color
symbolism that we see in
everyday life. All of the articles and pages on this site can be accessed via the Signology Index - a great educational resource for
everyone! What is the significance of a particular color?
What does each symbol on the Australian Flag mean - find out all you need to know! Color
Symbolism, Meaning, Crests, Emblems, Facts and much more! We have even
included a dream definition of the Australian Flag! Hope you find this resource on
flag symbols including the Australian flag useful.